Where can I get flying lessons?
A large majority of airports have at least one flight instructor available.  The smaller airports may not neccessarily have one on staff, but can put you in contact with one.   Another way to get started with flying lessons is by contacting the nearest FAA Flight Standards District Office.

Does my pilot training include a written test?
You will not need to pass a written test while flying with your instructor.  On the other hand, you will need to be familiar with some of the FAA’s rules before you fly solo.   Your flight instructor will also want  you to be familiar with the flight characteristics and operational limitations of the aircraft you will fly.   Therefore, you will be given materials to study and your instructor will be checking your knowledge before you solo.   If you pass, your instructor will endorse your student pilot’s certificate for solo flight, which indicates you are thought to be competent enough to make solo flights.

When do I have to get the endorsement?
Within 90 days of your first solo flight.

After I’ve soloed, can I fly cross-country alone?
Your instructor must first review your pre-flight planning and preparation for solo cross-country flight and determine that the flight can be made safely under known circumstances and conditions.  The instructor must also endorse your logbook (just like when you were endorsed for solo flight) before attempting any cross- country flight.   flight.

As a student pilot, can I carry passengers with me before getting my recreational or private pilot’s certificate?
No.

Must I have an FCC radiotelephone operator’s permit to operate an aircraft radio transmitter?
No.

What is the difference between a recreational pilot’s certificate and a private pilot’s certificate?
First of all, it usually takes fewer lessons to get a recreational pilots certificate than it does to get a private pilot certificate.  As a recreational pilot, you have to fly within 50 nautical miles of the airport where you learned to fly, you have to fly during the day.  You are not supposed to fly in any area where communications with air traffic control are required either.  A private pilot doesn’t have these limitations.

How old do I have to be to take the recreational pilot or private pilot written test?
You need to be at least 15 years old. If your looking at flying balloons or gliders, 14 is old enough. Be prepared to show proof of age. A copy of your birth certificate may be needed.

How should I prepare for the knowledge test?
You should study the materials identified by your flight instructor or included in a home-study course. For the recreational pilot test, the materials are based on section 61.97 of the FAA’s rules. For the private pilot test, the materials are based on section 61.105 of the FAA’s rules.

What document or documents must I present before taking a knowledge test?
You have to present identification that includes your photograph, signature, and home address. any one of the following:

• A certificate of graduation from a pilot training course conducted by an FAA-approved pilot school, or a statement of accomplishment from the school certifying the satisfactory completion of the ground-school portion of such a course
• A written statement from an FAA-certified ground or flight instructor, certifying that you have satisfactorily completed the required ground instruction
• Logbook entries by an FAA- certified ground or flight instructor, certifying satisfactory completion of the required ground instruction
• A certificate of graduation or statement of accomplishment from a ground school course conducted by an agency such as a high school, college, adult education program, the Civil Air Patrol, or an ROTC Flight Training Program
• A certificate of graduation from a home-study course developed by the aeronautical enterprise providing the study material

If you can’t provide any of the above items, you can have the home-study course you have completed reviewed by an FAA inspector to assure you are competent to take the desired knowledge test. Contact the local FAA Flight Standards District Office to get an appointment with an FAA inspector. The inspector will review your study material and may question you on some of the material. If you are found qualified to take the test, the inspector will issue FAA Form 8060-7, Airman’s Authorization for Written Test. You must present this form when you take your knowledge examination.

If you have to take the test over again, you must present either the unsatisfactory AC Form 8080-2, Airman Written Test Report, or an airman computer test report (if the test was taken at an FAA- designated computer testing center).

If I fail the knowledge test, is there any way to determine the areas in which I need additional work so I can study for a retest?
Yes. You will receive either AC Form 8080-2, Airman Written Test Report, or an airman computer test report (if the test was taken at an FAA-designated computer testing center). The test report will contain your test score and will also list the subject matter codes for the knowledge areas in which you were found deficient. An outline of the subject matter codes is located in the appendix of each written test book. You may refer to the appropriate written test book to determine the areas in which further study is needed.

If I pass the knowledge test, will I receive the same information concerning weak areas as I would if I failed the test?
Yes. (Refer to the previous answer.)

How long is a satisfactorily completed knowledge test valid?
A satisfactorily completed knowledge test expires two years from the day it was taken. If a practical test is not satisfactorily completed during that period, another knowledge test must be taken.

Will my instructor review the areas in which the test report showed I was deficient?
Yes. Your instructor must review the areas in which you were deficient and must endorse the written test report or provide a written endorsement indicating this review has been completed.

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